Diego Rossi #10 of the Columbus Crew (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Columbus Crew designated player Diego Rossi, 27, is enjoying his second stint in Major League Soccer. The Uruguayan international returned to the league in 2023 after a successful spell in Turkey with Fenerbahçe, where he won the Turkish Cup in 2023.
Rossi, who was the MLS Golden Boot winner in 2020 and has made seven appearances for the Uruguayan national team, currently has nine goals and three assists in 17 games for the Crew across all competitions—good for fourth place in the MLS East and positioning the team as a heavy favorite to win their fourth title, one of which Rossi won in 2023.
In a sit-down interview with RG, Rossi explained what makes the Crew tick, his status with the Uruguayan national team, and how he made the decision to join MLS with LAFC when the team had never played a game.
Keys to the Crew’s Success
RG: What’s the secret behind the success of the Columbus Crew? It seems it’s another season where the Crew will be fighting for the MLS Cup.
“The key for the team is to simply continue to fight for important things—Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS Cup. We continue to stay the course regarding our ideas and our manner of playing. I think that is what has helped us achieve our goals. The team is ready to compete, always trying to win as many tournaments as possible. That’s been the idea of everyone from the board on down. Now we’ll see just how far our mentality takes us this year.”
Uruguay: A Waiting Game
Diego Rossi played in Uruguay’s youth national team setup from the U-15 level, eventually progressing to the senior side and playing under Óscar Washington Tabárez. However, since Marcelo Bielsa took over the team, Rossi has yet to be called into camp. His recent form has led pundits to question this decision, especially as La Celeste struggles with scoring.
RG: What’s your status with the Uruguayan national team? You haven’t played since 2023. Have you spoken to coach Marcelo Bielsa?
“One always wants to play for the national team. One has to be prepared to get that call. My objective now is to give everything I’ve got with the Crew and wait to get an opportunity to play for Uruguay once again. I work hard with my club and train hard, waiting for that call. But no, I have not spoken to anyone from the national team lately.”
RG: From afar, how do you see things with Uruguay? There seems to be a generational shift. What have you seen from the team while you have been away?
“I think the team is playing well under Bielsa. South American qualifying is really hard. All national teams have something to offer, and it’s a very competitive tournament. I see a team that is playing well, and I think it’s close to qualifying for the World Cup.”
Reflecting on MLS and Turkey Experiences
RG: You have a unique career path. You began in Uruguay, then MLS, Turkey, and now back in MLS. Can you describe the styles of these leagues? What differences and similarities are there between them?
“All three leagues are different. I had to play at a young age at a club like Peñarol, and I learned so much there. Peñarol is a team with so much history and passion. Then I went to LAFC, which was a new team in a new country, in a league that at that time you could tell was growing rapidly. When I went to Turkey, to a huge club like Fenerbahçe, that was a league that is very passionate and competitive, with different styles and experiences. Then I returned to MLS with the Crew. I’m more familiar with the league now, and a lot depends on the team one is at in order to have success. The style of play of those teams needs to suit the player. In each place, I was able to improve as a player and learn a lot, and that is very important.”
RG: How was it going to LAFC? How did LAFC sell itself, considering they had never played a game and everything was based on a PowerPoint?
“It was a unique experience. I played my whole life at Peñarol, a club that is world-renowned, and going to a team that had never played a game was unique, different, a challenge. I remember they showed me the project they had as a club and a team, what they wanted, and I thought it seemed like a unique fit. I learned so much as a player and as a person. It was my first time away from home in a new country. I grew as a person and professional. That experience has helped me a lot throughout my career.”
RG: How was it playing in Turkey with famously passionate fans? Was it easy to go out?
“Actually, I was treated well. It was a great experience. They are very passionate, like in South America. I was accustomed to the way things are done at Peñarol, so it was an easy fit, so to speak. It was a lovely experience. After playing in South America, I was already used to the kind of passion found in the stands in Turkey.”
MLS Return: Older, Wiser, and Focused
RG: What is the main difference now in MLS compared to when you left a few years ago? Are you here to stay, or could you see yourself back in Europe?
“I returned to a team that won MLS Cup, Leagues Cup. It was a great way to come back to the league. I continue to learn, continue to work hard, and right now I’m really enjoying my football. Regarding Europe, I’m here right now, and we’ll see what happens in the future.”
RG: How is it playing under Wilfried Nancy?
“The team has molded well into Wilfried Nancy’s style of play. We all understood his way of playing soccer. I think we have a very competitive team. We work hard every day, and Nancy has been able to project that hard work onto us.”
RG: You played for LAFC and know what it’s like to start a project from scratch with a lot of expectations. Is it comparable to the expectations around Inter Miami and all their stars?"
“I think when you are a new team, it’s always hard to hit the ground running. We had a great start at LAFC, and that helped us gain confidence. Good results always help in making things go smoother. At LAFC, when I started, the training complex wasn’t ready. As those things began being added, it only made us better. Each club has its own idea. In the case of LAFC, we wanted to be competitive from the start, and thankfully we were."
Diego Rossi Ping Pong
RG: What’s Peñarol for you?
“(Laughs) Oufff… My home… everything. Where I grew as a player and as a person.”
RG: A hobby?
“(Laughs) Drinking mate has turned into a hobby at this point.”
RG: Favorite food?
“Uruguayan asado.”
RG: A series or movie?
“Prison Break.”
RG: A favorite book or something to read?
“(Laughs) Zero, nothing.”
RG: A city?
“Ciudad de la Costa (in Uruguay).”
RG: One wish?
“Be happy, be with those who love me, and enjoy life.”
Kelvin Loyola
